Health group wants Michael Jordan flu game Gatorade commercial pulled

A public health group wants the Gatorade commercial highlighting Michael Jordan’s “flu game” pulled because they feel it sends a bad message. The commercial glorifies MJ’s incredible Game 5 performance in the 1997 NBA Finals against the Jazz where he scored 38 points despite having a 103 degree fever because he was extremely ill. The commercial’s message is you “win from within,” and the implication is that Gatorade helped him overcome his illness.

“The Jordan Ad openly promotes engaging in vigorous physical activity while suffering from a very high fever, in Jordan’s case 103 degrees,” the PHAI said in a letter dated May 8, 2012, to the Federal Trade Commission.

“It is a generally recognized safety principle that teens and even professional athletes suffering from a severe fever and flu-like symptoms should not engage in vigorous physical activity.”

I don’t think anyone would disagree that someone with a severe flu should not be playing in athletic events, but we’re talking about Michael Jordan and the NBA Finals here, not some lame frosh-soph high school game. Exceptions can be made in those situations. Can you say OVERREACTION much?